Hagan

My new novel, Sword of the War God, is out in hardback on April 11. It is historical fiction set in the early half of the Fifth Century AD. This was a truly fascinating time: The Saxons began crossing the sea to Britain, the Roman Empire was on its last legs, struggling to survive against waves of barbarian invasions, the Huns came from the East. Legendary figures such as King Arthur or Saint Patrick, if they existed, lived through all this, as well as others like Atilla, Guðrún and Gunnar, Sigurd the dragon slayer and many others. Their adventures inspired Old Norse Sagas like Saga of the Völsungs, the medieval German epic The Nibelungenlied and modern works from the operas of Richard Wagner to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

Sword of the War God takes those legends and places them back into the historical context in which they happened.

In the run up to the launch, I am posting short intros to the main characters here, covering their role in the book and their historical or legendary (and sometimes both) inspirations. Yesterday was the turn of Brunhild and the day was the “Little Daddy” himself, Atilla. Today it is the turn of the main character around who all the events of the tale revolve: Hagan.

Hagan, Gunhild and Gunderic and Brunhild grew up together as childhood friends. Through his young life Hagan believed he was the son of the foremost champion of his tribe, the Burgundars, only to learn that in fact his mother was raped by an unknown assailant and he is the bastard offspring.  Soon after that he loses everything else - home, friends, people - and becomes first a Roman army conscript then a wandering mercenary. Lonely though never morose, Hagan has a special talent for stealth and hunting. He is the central character of the tale.

Sometimes good, sometimes epitomising tradition or common sense, sometimes a force for evil, Hagan (also called Hogni) appears in all the tales and myths associated with this legend. My portrayal of him was inspired by an Old English poem now known as The Wanderer, a melancholy elegy about a warrior who has lost everything he held dear and now wanders the earth alone, enduring its hardships. 

Hagan is neither good nor bad. He tries to act for the best but has no control over the consequences of his actions. 

Hwær cwom mearg? Hwær cwom mago? Where is the horse gone? Where the rider?

Hwær cwom maþþumgyfa? Where the giver of treasure?

Hwær cwom symbla gesetu? Where are the seats at the feast?

Hwær sindon seledreamas? Where are the revels in the hall?

Eala beorht bune! Alas for the bright cup!

Eala byrnwiga! Alas for the mailed warrior!

Eala þeodnes þrym! Alas for the splendour of the prince!

Hu seo þrag gewat,         How that time has passed away,

genap under nihthelm, dark under the cover of night,

swa heo no wære. as if it had never been!

 -from The Wanderer